• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.166-167
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect on drying shrinkage of self-healing epoxy-modified mortars(EPMMs) using expansive admixtures. The EPMMs are prepared with polymer-binder ratios of 0 and 10%, and tested for drying shrinkage and pore structure analysis. As a result, regardless of the expansion and swelling agent content, the drying shrinkage of the EPMMs is remarkably decreased than that of unmodified mortars. Also, the pore size distribution of the EPMMs is moved to smaller size in comparison with unmodified mortars. In this study, the EPMM with expansive agent 7.5% and swelling agent 2.5% is recommended as a optimal mix proportion for reduction of drying shrinkage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1982-1992
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• 2019

The alkaliphilic, calcium carbonate precipitating Bacillus sp. strain AK13 can be utilized in concrete for self-repairing. A statistical experimental design was used to develop an economical medium for its mass cultivation and sporulation. Two types of screening experiment were first conducted to identify substrates that promote the growth of the AK13 strain: the first followed a one-factor-at-a-time factorial design and the second a two-level full factorial design. Based on these screening experiments, barley malt powder and mixed grain powder were identified as the substrates that most effectively promoted the growth of the AK13 strain from a range of 21 agricultural products and by-products. A quadratic statistical model was then constructed using a central composite design and the concentration of the two substrates was optimized. The estimated growth and sporulation of Bacillus sp. strain AK13 in the proposed medium were 3.08 ± 0.38 × 10⁸ and 1.25 ± 0.12 × 10⁸ CFU/ml, respectively, which meant that the proposed low-cost medium was approximately 45 times more effective than the commercial medium in terms of the number of cultivatable bacteria per unit price. The spores were then powdered via a spray-drying process to produce a spore powder with a spore count of 2.0 ± 0.7 × 10⁹ CFU/g. The AK13 spore powder was mixed with cement paste, yeast extract, calcium lactate, and water. The yeast extract and calcium lactate generated the highest CFU/ml for AK13 at a 0.4:0.4 ratio compared to 0.4:0.25 (the original ratio of the B4 medium) and 0.4:0.8. Twenty-eight days after the spores were mixed into the mortar, the number of vegetative cells and spores of the AK13 strain had reached 10⁶ CFU/g within the mortar. Cracks in the mortar under 0.29 mm were healed in 14 days. Calcium carbonate precipitation was observed on the crack surface. The mortar containing the spore powder was thus concluded to be effective in terms of healing micro-cracks.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2023

In this study, the development of a self-healing concrete waterproofing agent was examined, focusing on its manufacturing and waterproofing properties. The optimal ratio using microcapsules for the concrete waterproofing agent was determined through assessments of flow, compressive strength, and permeability conducted during the mortar stage. These findings aimed to provide fundamental data for evaluating the self-healing properties of the concrete waterproofing agent designed for use in concrete structures. The self-healing concrete waterproofing agent was comprised of three types of inorganic materials commonly used for repair purposes. From experimental results, a composition ratio with a high potassium silicate content, referred to as SIM-2, was found suitable. A surfactant mixing ratio of 0.03 % was identified to enhance the dispersibility of the concrete waterproofing agent, while a mixing ratio of 0.2 % distilled water was deemed suitable for viscosity adjustment. For the magnetic self-healing concrete waterproofing agent's healing agent, using microcapsules in the range of 0.5 % to 0.7 % met the KS F 4949 and KS F 4926 standards.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2016

In this paper, compressive strength and water permeability performance for two types of crack self-healing materials such as SH-PO-0 composed of mineral admixtures(expansive agent, swelling material and crystal growth agent) and SH-PO-(5, 15, 30) blended with SH-PO-0 and phosphate additive(PO) dissolving easily calcium ion, were evaluated. The test results show that the water flow of SH-PO-0 decreased steeply at the early age although compressive strength decreased about 9% at 28 days compared with OPC. The higher PO replacement ratio is, the lower compressive strength and more improved water permeability performance is, and thus, based on such results, adequate PO replacement ratio is 15%. It is also found that the self-healing performance of SH-PO-15 was quite improved at the early ages and however, the performance of SH-PO-15 is similar to one of SH-PO-0 at long-term ages, and 28 days compressive strength of SH-PO-15 decreased about 8% compared with SH-PO-0. In addition, it is confirmed from the analysis of SEM-EDS that calcium ions of SH-PO-15 were crystallized more than those of SH-PO-0.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the physical properties and self-healing effects of hardener-free epoxy-modified mortars(EMMs) using ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS). The EMMs with GGBFS were prepared with various polymer-binder ratios and GGBFS contents, and tested for strengths, adhesion in tension, water permeation and self-healing effects. The conclusions obtained from the test results are summarized as follows. The compressive strength of the EMMs with GGBFS is reduced with increasing polymer-binder ratios because of reduction of the degree of hardening in the EMMs, and is somewhat inferior to that of unmodified mortars. In the flexural and tensile strengths, the flexural strength of the EMMs is almost constant with increasing polymer-binder ratios. However, the tensile strength of the EMMs is gradually increased with increasing polymer-binder ratios. Regardless of the GGBFS contents, the adhesion in tension of the EMMs increases sharply with increasing polymer-binder ratios. The water permeation of the EMMs is remarkably reduced with increasing polymer-binder ratios and GGBFS contents. The self-healing effect of the hardener-free EMMs with GGBFS is improved with increasing water immersion period at a GGBFS content of 20%.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.404-416
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• 2020

Bacteria that are resistant to high temperatures and alkaline environments are essential for the biological repair of damaged concrete. Alkaliphilic and halotolerant Bacillus sp. AK13 was isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Unlike other tested Bacillus species, the AK13 strain grows at pH 13 and withstands 11% (w/v) NaCl. Growth of the AK13 strain at elevated pH without urea promoted calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formation. Irregular vaterite-like CaCO₃ minerals that were tightly attached to cells were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the presence of CaCO₃ around the cell. Isotope ration mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the majority of CO₃^2- ions in the CaCO₃ were produced by cellular respiration rather than being derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The minerals produced from calcium acetate-added growth medium formed smaller crystals than those formed in calcium lactate-added medium. Strain AK13 appears to heal cracks on mortar specimens when applied as a pelletized spore powder. Alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. AK13 is a promising candidate for self-healing agents in concrete.